“Moving onto St. Cloud is an opportunity that I look forward to, but will very much miss the enthusiasm and stamina of the Fargo Force," Johnson said.

Johnson will replace Eric Rud who left the Huskies to accept the Head Coach position with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers in late August.

Johnson took over in Fargo in 2009 for Dean Blais after a long career behind the bench for the Lincoln Stars. In his career in the USHL, he ranks fourth all-time in wins and has been named USHL Coach of the Year three times.

While he moves to the NCAA ranks behind the bench for the first time, Johnson is no stranger to the WCHA. A forward for North Dakota in his playing days, Johnson won a National Championship in 1987 and scored 191 points in 153 games over four seasons. In his senior year, he earned a Hobey Baker Finalist nomination after scoring 85 points.